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By CHRIS WHEELER, NORTHERN SPORTS WRITER Published: 05: 44 AEDT, 26 October 2025 | Updated: 07: 23 AEDT, 26 October 2025 76 View comments On the weekend the clocks go back, Manchester United did their bit with a swaggering, swashbuckling performance that revived memories of some of the great nights at Old Trafford. This grand old theatre rocked with joy, jubilation and, ultimately, a little relief as Ruben Amorim’s side put Brighton to the sword to win a third game in a row and move into the top-four, however temporary it may prove to be. If beating Liverpool at Anfield a week ago marked the high point of Amorim’s first year in charge, this wasn’t far behind. The challenge was to build on that success, and United did it with a confidence and relish so badly missing from their performances under him over the last 12 months. As the fans lapped it up, Sir Jim Ratcliffe – watching from the directors’ box – must have been quietly congratulating himself for holding his nerve when doubts hung over Amorim’s future just a few weeks ago. Rarely has trust been so richly rewarded. Let’s not forget, this is a Brighton side that have lorded it over United in recent seasons, winning no fewer than six of the previous seven Premier League meetings between the two clubs. The great United teams played with flair but sometimes flew by their seat of their pants, and that was the story here in a real ding-dong encounter. Ruben Amorim has now won three games in a row for the first time as Man United manager Bryan Mbeumo was the hero as he scored a brace on a thrilling evening at Old Trafford In Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, United have signed two players in the best traditions of the club; brimming with talent and attacking intent, but also with the character to shine on this stage. Credit to Ineos, they have proved to be two very astute pieces of business. ‘The money was well invested, ’ said Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler with a wry smile. Mbeumo scored twice and Cunha once, with Casemiro getting United’s other goal. Former Old Trafford favourite and Longsight local Danny Welbeck, still in great shape at the age of 34, claimed his fifth goal in the last four games for Brighton, and Charalampos Kostoulas headed another to set up a tense finish at 3-2 before Mbeumo scored his second of the night with almost the last kick of the game. ‘It wouldn’t be Manchester United without suffering a little bit! ’ said Amorim. ‘It was a more complete performance (than Liverpool) and I feel more complete as a manager. ‘I always felt Jim believed and knew what we are doing, but to face the fans is more difficult. I never had that feeling of embarrassment, it is more with the fans. Everything in football can change in one week. ’ Amorim will also have been delighted with the defensive diligence of his flair players. Mbeumo, Cunha and Bruno Fernandes all tracked back to deny almost certain Brighton goals. There is a confidence and camaraderie building around this United team that suggests their Portuguese coach is finally starting to build something of substance. Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha look astute signings, with the latter getting his first goal here Casemiro was rewarded for his hard work with a goal as United went fourth in the table They went ahead in the 24th minute after having two penalty appeals rejected by referee Anthony Taylor and his colleagues on VAR. The first was a strong one indeed. Amad Diallo cut inside Maxim De Cuyper who raised his right leg behind him and brought down the Ivorian. If there was the slightest touch on the ball before he made contact with Diallo, it was barely discernible. The second was more in hope than expectation as Mbeumo intercepted Yasin Ayari’s poor pass to Lewis Dunk across his own box and went down as he brushed past the England defender. Again, Taylor was unconvinced, but Brighton’s mistakes were causing them problems and it was to cost them dearly. ‘If you give them four presents, you can’t win the game, ’ lamented Hurzeler. When Welbeck failed to control Diallo’s stray square pass across the edge of the Brighton box, Fernandes knocked the ball to Casemiro who teed up Cunha. The Brazilian took one touch before whipping a shot around Jan Paul van Hecke and into the bottom corner for his first goal since joining United from Wolves in a £62. 5million deal. Brighton contributed to the second goal as well in the 34th minute. Luke Shaw anticipated Van Hecke’s pass out from the back to Georginio Rutter, and got a foot in to poke it to Casemiro. He sized up a shot from 20 yards and it hit Ayari in the back before spinning past Bart Verbruggen who was hopelessly wrong-footed. United thought they had killed the game off on the hour mark. Brighton were unhappy that Shaw appeared to tug Rutter’s shirt close to halfway, but the referee once again waved play on and United took full advantage. Danny Welbeck scored an exquisite free-kick to continue his fine form at the age of 34 Charalampos Kostoulas' 92nd-minute goal set up a nervy finish but Mbeumo had other ideas United were able to enjoy themselves in front of the crowd at the end - never a guarantee Diogo Dalot fed the ball to Sesko who passed to Mbeumo, and he fired into the bottom corner through Dunk’s legs. Brighton reduced the arrears in the 74th minute after Minteh was sent clear and Patrick Dorgu was lucky to escape a red card for clipping his heels, Taylor and VAR deeming it worthy of only a yellow much to Hurzeler’s disgust. It was unnecessary as well considering the ball was running through to Lammens, and Welbeck punished his old club by clipping the free kick into the top corner. Kostoulas got on the end of James Milner’s corner as he rose above Joshua Zirkzee to head home in the second minute of added time. But Mbeumo finally put the result beyond doubt in the 96th minute, racing onto Ayden Heaven’s clever first-time pass and lifting a shot over Verbruggen to no little relief around Old Trafford.

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